Innovate faster and compete to win with NFV

by Telecom Council ·
Published September 10, 2015
· Updated February 10, 2019

Author: Saar Gillai, Senior Vice President and General Manager, HP NFV Business Unit

NFV is evolving in stages, each driving more innovation and faster delivery of applications and services. These stages represent an evolution of technology, and you can jump ahead as these stages of technology mature.

Here’s how we see the evolution of NFV technology:

Stage 1: decouple network functions from platforms. In this stage network functions were separated from underlying hardware and deployed as software on standardized platforms. This unchains CSPs from proprietary, closed solutions to deliver more flexibility in your data center and network and reduce costs and complexity. Innovation comes from more efficient operations; standardized platforms streamline maintenance and reduce management overhead.

Stage 3: cloudify the environment. In this next stage wide area networks are operated as part of the cloud and holistically aligned and consumed with compute and storage pools. This stage lets CSPs achieve efficient network-wide resource utilization, respond dynamically to shifting traffic patterns and customer demand, and instantiate services dynamically through automation. Innovation comes from extremely efficient resource utilization, radically streamlined just-in-time delivery, and the ability to scale and introduce services dynamically.

Stage 4: decompose monolithic network functions. In this stage network, compute, storage architecture and resources are distributed. Monolithic network functions are decomposed into elemental building blocks (sub-functions) and selectively integrated into resource pools and deployed where needed. Services are recomposed from these ‘micro services.’ CSPs and their customers can compose new and improved services through the use of service-aware interfaces that provide seamless integration of network, compute and storage resources. In this stage CSPs will realize the benefits of NFV. In this last stage innovation comes from dramatically increased capacity to quickly deliver new, innovative, adaptive apps and services.